I've been fighting with myself for a long time about my prices. I have wanted to sell my jewelry at around the prices I have them fixed at now for a long time. In fact, from the time I started my shop! But I listened in the forums, read other people's comments all over the net, and took advice from artist and craftspeople who are selling very well. They all said: 'do not devalue your work, don't make customers think your work is not well made by a too low price, and do not undercut other artists, etc.' So I listened...Meanwhile, all of them are selling their items (maybe not with as fast of a turnover as before, but selling!) and I sold one item over a month ago!! Shortly before that, except for one sale, I think, it had been almost 7 weeks without a sale!!! UGH!
As fast, and as much, as I crochet this lack of ANY sales thing is making me crazy! I'm just building up stock in my shop! I'm gonna be like that lonely lady with all of her cats, or the lady who had a thin walking path going through her house while she had piles and piles of stuff around her that she hoarded!!! LOL...NO I'M NOT!!! Ha! Ha! Because I'm not listening to the suggestions anymore...at least for now. I'm having this Sale to see if my prices have been the problem...or if I just need to give up on this creative venture. (No disrespect to anyone that has given me advice is meant here.) I really need to know!
These necklaces, with a button and my special crocheted backing, are now only $10.00. I'm not getting paid for labor on these, just materials. And, while I hate to waste leftover materials, most of my materials are the good stuff going in! I don't like to work with things that aren't the best to feel between my fingers, and that aren't going to last. (Some exceptions are yarns and things given to me by friends. I still use them, but...Sorry friends!) Okay, these are now $10.00. http://www.etsy.com/listing/29406656/blue-and-white-water-in-the-hole-organza http://www.etsy.com/listing/28912567/rainbow-scope-two-painted-seasons
The poem I'm leaving you with today is about my friend's daughter, Bri. She was almost like a daughter to me too. I started babysitting her when she was really young. We played dress up (while watching "A Wedding Story" on TLC) and studied together, danced and sang with hand held microphones in my house, and took naps together. She knew how important a nap was!!! She's married now, and a mother herself. I love her and miss her being around very much. She would have been so supportive of my shop pricing change! :-)) I'll tell you more about her later.
Daughter Of My Heart
She's the daughter of my heart,
Not my womb, like most kids are;
And to say she's loved by all
would not be taking it too far.
She was raised well, by her mom.
(Her other mother-besides me!)
SHE was there to wipe her runny nose,
and bounce her on her knee.
I came along much later;
and I'm thankful for the chance
to share her life a little,
and to see her spirit dance.
She's the daughter of my heart,
the daughter that we never had;
The child I wanted to give Jeff
so that, one day, he'd be a dad.
I didn't get to burp her,
or to read a bedtime story.
I didn't see her sick
with chicken pox, and have to worry.
We love her timely visits,
and her pictures everywhere;
And when her and Jeff play cards
how fun to hear her yell "No Fair"!
For me, I love our little talks,
our spiritual time-our joking too.
She's the daughter of my heart,
because no womb would really do!
I think you should do very well with your new prices. You have to go by what YOU think, not by what someone else thinks! I've done that too and don't sell the things I priced by someone elses standards. I love the poem. Bri sounds like a wonderful girl. And I can see you love her dearly! I wish you MANY sales my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you again, Bead!...And Yes, Bri is a great girl. I'll blog about her soon, I'm sure! :-))
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